Historical society hosting Earl Young home tours

July 07, 2010

Thanks to the generosity of several Charlevoix home owners, the Charlevoix Historical Society is offering a rare opportunity to tour the interior of eight unique Earl Young homes from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28.

Earl Young was a resident of Charlevoix for more than 70 years. Without a formal education in architecture, Young designed and constructed a total of 30 buildings throughout his 50-year building career without plans or specifications, only jottings on scraps of paper he carried in his pocket.

Society organizers note that present Young would never had met the requirements for certification that architects and builders must meet today; and with today’s building codes and zoning regulations, these homes would never have been built.

Not only have Young’s “mushroom” houses had an aesthetic influence on architecture in the Charlevoix area, but the have also been a source of tourism in Charlevoix since the 1950s, organizers note.

Advertisement

Young found inspiration in nature and stone, often allowing boulders to dictate the design of a building. His architecture does not conform to a particular style. Instead, his buildings incorporate design elements from a number of different styles, such as arts and crafts, prairie, and even Swiss chalet. Each structure has its own distinct character, but they are unified by a number of key elements, including exterior stonework, massive stone fireplaces, and generally low-lying roofs.

Tickets are $35 per person and may be purchased at the Charlevoix Historical Society, 103 State Street, Charlevoix. For more information, call (231) 547-0373 or email chxhistory@sbcglobal.net. More information is also available on the organization’s website at www.chxhistory.com